Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Education and Training) (14:18): I thank Senator Whish-Wilson for his question and his interest in this issue. Of course, it is important, as Senator Canavan rightly highlighted yesterday, that we take issues in relation to the Great Barrier Reef incredibly seriously, as we do, but also that we do not engage in scaremongering or excessive embellishment when it comes to issues in relation to the reef that could in fact further damage industry, business and operators up there unnecessarily. The effects of the 2016 and 2017 coral-bleaching events are of deep concern to our government. They emphasise and are the reason for the importance of our joint efforts to build resilience through the Reef 2050 Plan and ongoing management by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The article released in Nature on 16 March 2016 highlights that local management of fisheries and water quality offers little resistance to bleaching but may improve prospects for recovery. It is also likely that other ecosystems and species within the World Heritage area, like seagrasses and mangroves, are critically supported by such policy measures. We of course are determined and committed to working on the delivery of our Reef 2050 Plan— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Senator Whish-Wilson, a point of order? Senator Whish-Wilson: Mr President, I did ask specifically for the minister to update the chamber on his understanding of the extent of the recent bleaching event, which is critical information that we need. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Whish-Wilson. You did ask in relation to: 'Can the minister inform of the government's understanding?' Minister, I will remind you of the question. Senator BIRMINGHAM: Thanks, Mr President. Indeed, as I was saying, the government is committed to delivering its Reef 2050 Plan to help address many of these issues. I can inform Senator Whish-Wilson that results from the second round of surveys conducted in October-November 2016 are still being analysed. In general, they are consistent with the findings presented in the interim report. Based on reports and surveys to date, mass coral bleaching has occurred in the Great Barrier Reef for the second consecutive year. Bleaching is consistent with the accumulated build-up of thermal stress across the reef, shown in the Bureau of Meteorology's thermal stress mapping tools. Senator Whish-Wilson, as I said, the advice I have is that in general they are consistent with findings presented in the interim— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, a supplementary question.